The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, says it will be providing funds for research for drug development in the country, as part of efforts to reach its mandate.
Four public agencies including the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan among others are expected to participate in the research.
The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Prof Suleiman Bogoro, on Tuesday said the research activity will focus on the production of phytomedicine.
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The TETFund boss who expressed optimism that the activity of the nation’s Research Committee is transforming perceptions about research in the country said peoples opinions about the policy direction on research has improved.
‘I cannot remember to the best of my recollection, at any time in our country, where the issue of institutionalisation of R&D, the triple helix concept, the deepening of research, the emphasis on problem-solving research, rather than status acquiring research, has become the topic in almost every engagement, private and public.’
Chairman of TETFund Research and Development Standing Committee, RDSC, Prof Njidda Gadzama, said since the committee’s inception in September, it has changed the perception of Nigerians to understand that a knowledge-based economy would enhance the GDP of Nigeria.
Despite doing most of its work in the thick of COVID-19, Gadzama said the committee paid advocacy visits to several appropriate bodies and agencies with visible R&D outputs in the country.
‘And judging by the commitment of members and their drive to succeed, coupled with the convener’s dogged determination in ensuring the development of R&D backed knowledge economy for Nigeria, we have gone very far in our assignment. Many milestones have been achieved and about 32 different reports are in the custody of TCT.’
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK